http://www.rootstime.be/CD%20REVIEUW/2011/MA/ses1.jpg

Slim Cessna's Auto Club - Unentitled (2011)

It's no secret I've been a little obsessed with this band for the last month or so. I found out about them in like 2009 and even grabbed up most of their discography, but for whatever reason I never got into it as much as I have lately.

Anyways this is their shortest album, but I'm almost willing to call it their best work, or at least their most consistent in terms of track-to-track quality. If any band best exemplifies the idea of beauty in ugly it's these guys. All the band members are pretty homely, but man they can make some beautiful music while using some very dark and ugly subject matter and songwriting. I won't say they're on Nick Cave level of dark and ugly, he's in a league of his own, but they very much keep the idea alive.

If you're lacking in the country genre for music to listen to, I highly recommend these guys. Very accessible (so long as you're not offended by the subject matter) and very energetic while not being exhausting. They've been voted "Best Live Act" from Spin and a lot of reviews of their music I hear talks about their live shows somehow. This is definitely the best album to test the waters because it's the shortest, so if it's not your thing you're not out much time and it's their newest, so it at least gives you an idea of where the band is going.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8...7693_cover.jpg

Alpine - A Is For Alpine (2013)

An album like this is the reason I don't mind sifting through what seem like endless forgettable indie albums. I had never heard of these guys...it was more or less a random pick, but I can safely say I'll be listening to this quite a bit. To give you an idea of their sound - I could have sworn they were from Scandinavia. Scandinavians that knew how to make a very catchy indie pop song. Turns out they are from Australia. While I can try to pick out highlights from this album, I can safely say this album is good from start to finish. They explore a sound that's first impression is that it can easily become stale, but they are able to mine that sound for consistently catchy and interesting songs. They know how to give a song just enough crunch to keep it interesting right when you might start to get tired of a particular hook...and they really like their hooks. Nearly every song has something to offer, which is impressive for a pop album. And it definitely is a pop album. It's definitely worth checking out.

I'll just go ahead and say the first video is probably NSFW...but definitely interesting...

You need to listen to Defiance, Ohio's Share What Ya Got and The Great Depression... :)

yeah this album is really fun, I'm looking forward to their next release which should be soon given the band's prolific nature

I heard "Gasoline" recently and added the album to my wishlist. I usually don't go for female-fronted stuff but I thought the music and their vocal style was interesting so it might be worth a listen. Had I heard "Hands" instead I may not have had the same reaction. Still keeping it on the list, I may check it out someday.

http://assets.rollingstone.com/asset...1368715051.jpg

This is how you know a National record is good: you really despise it at first, then after two or three listens you're hooked so hard, you don't even realize it.

Oh really? I haven't bothered to touch it after my first listen of it. I don't know if I have the willpower to push through 2 more play throughs of it.

I don't hate the album by any means, I just find it completely transparent.

100% won't ever listen to it.

Really? Do you hate The National?